There's some very sad news coming out of Killer Instinct developer Iron Galaxy today - with the US-based team announcing it's "parting ways" with "some" of its developers and support staff.
This decision has been a "last resort" and it cuts the team down to just 66 people (it reportedly had over 250 employees a few years ago). It's apparently a "measure" the team doesn't take lightly but is vital to ensure the company's "long-term survival".
The notice on its website also cites industry changes and its own game Rumbleverse, which was met with a "premature sunset" in 2023, as contributing factors.
Iron Galaxy: "We’ve been making sacrifices to keep our teams intact. It has been our hope that we could emerge from this long winter alongside all the teammates who have come to work with us over the years. Today, we’re making the unfortunate announcement that we have run out of room to maneuver amidst this slow recovery."
Going forward, Iron Galaxy says it remains committed to serving its partners and its "capabilities remain intact" to work with other companies and deliver "beloved player experiences".
In the immediate future, the focus for the company is on the teammates who have "begun a journey toward their next role" and supporting them in the "next phase of their careers".
Apart from its work on Killer Instinct (taking over from developer Double Helix), Iron Galaxy has also helped out with series like Diablo, Fallout, Overwatch, The Elder Scrolls, and Spyro. This news follows Ubisoft laying off 185 employees last month.
If we hear any significant updates, we'll let you know.
Comments 6
This is more sad news for the industry. I didn't know Iron Galaxy was doing so much support work, let's hope those affected will find employment somewhere else soon.
There were rumours of a KI port for PS5 recently, and wonder if that would have helped the situation with the studio(?) or perhaps there is someone else doing the port (assuming is true).
Jesus gaming companies just keep sacking people very sad ðŸ˜
There should of been a new killer instinct by now I loved it years ago on xbone!
@Ricky-Spanish Sadly, it's just the sheer expense of game development. Game development isn't cheap, and the cost to run a studio, buy all that expensive equipment, buy licences, and hire a team, are costs that are just soaring.
It's half the reason many are going multiplat (Square Enix, Xbox etc...) because despite what many say, it really is the best way forward to ensure survival and increased income. We gamers haven't helped when these teams we love are closed down, because we're the first to complain when they need to make extra money (loot boxes, microtransactions, DLC, price hikes etc..)
@Sol4ris Needless to say, this is bad news. I think it's something that we have been seeing since the pandemic, probably because most teams were oversized before it. I wouldn't say this if it wasn't because of almost all developers doing the same, except Nintendo that outsources most of the development. Some pessimistic people were foretelling a video games crisis. I guess this is the better outcome, the solution or the "last resort" like the developer said.
Hopefully Microsoft steps in before the studio goes bankrupt. I guess they would not be too expensive for them and could be the dedicated Killer Instinct team.
Man we need another Killerinstinct!
Release the current one on ps5 and on the switch 2.
Getting that money to keep the staff and work on a new KI.
That game is what everyone loves.
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